Moldova Sets New Date For President Vote

Moldova's parliament has set December 16 as the date for its second attempt in less than a month to pick a president and thus end more than two years of leadership crisis.

The head of state is elected by parliament, not by direct popular vote, and requires the support of at least 61 deputies in the 101-member legislature.

Political stalemate has derailed previous attempts to elect a president, since the governing Alliance for European Integration holds only 59 seats, while the Communist opposition, which holds 42 seats, has blocked their candidates.

The country has been without a full-time president since Communist President Vladimir Voronin stepped down in 2009 after two consecutive terms in office.